Avelo Airlines faces protest after beginning deportation flights from Arizona

US low-cost carrier Avelo Airlines has begun deportation flights from Arizona, sparking hundreds to gather in protest outside airports in Arizona and Connecticut, alongside a online petition calling for people to boycott the airline.   

The first flight on behalf of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began on May 12, 2025, from Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) near Phoenix. In April 2025, Avelo announced it would operate three 737-800s for the flights.  

However, details about the financial agreement with ICE and the flight destinations have not been made public.  

Avelo confirmed in April 2025 that it had signed a contract with ICE to conduct federal deportation flights, which aligns with Trump administration’s controversed strategy to strengthen immigration enforcement. 

Thousands of people have signed a petition on Change.org to boycott Avelo until it stops these flights, which are described as “cruel deportation practices.” The petition has gathered 37,905 signatures so far. 

On May 12, 2025, protests took place outside airports in Arizona and Connecticut. In Mesa, more than 30 protesters gathered on a road to the airport, holding signs against Trump’s deportation policies, The Independent reported. Meanwhile, around 150 people gathered outside Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) in Connecticut. 

“We need to cause some economical damage to the company to really convince them that they should be on the side with the people and not with the government,” John Jairo Lugo, Co-founder and Community Organizing Director of Unidad Latina en Acción (ULA) in New Haven said in a statement seen by The Independent. The post Avelo Airlines faces protest after beginning deportation flights from Arizona appeared first on AeroTime.

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